ANDY MORRELL yesterday took over the mantle from Dean Saunders and insisted he and the players will fight tooth and nail to continue Wrexham FC's excellent start to the Blue Square Bet Premier.

Wrexham currently lie second in the table behind Luton Town only on goals difference, having collected 20 points from their opening 10 games.

Today they make the trip to take on Grimsby Town, but without manager Dean Saunders, who was yesterday unveiled as the new Doncaster Rovers chief.

Morrell takes over in the interim, with Brian Carey and Michael Oakes supporting him, and he immediately set out what he expects from the players.

He said: “I’m just looking after the lads while there’s no-one in charge, obviously I’ve got this club deep in me. I’ve been here a while, they’ve asked me to help out so that’s what I’m going to do.

“Geoff (Moss) and the people who are in charge at the moment, they’ve asked me, so we will keep things the same.

“But I’m really chuffed that I’ve been asked and I just want the fans to know I’ll be giving it everything and the players will be giving it everything while I’m in charge and hopefully we can go in the right direction still.

“I don’t think there’s a lot wrong, 20 points from 10 games, we’ve made a very good start, we had a little blip, but it was a good solid performance on Tuesday at Southport (a 0-0 draw), and there’s nothing really that I need to change. The gaffer had it spot on.

“We’ve got a formula to play to, we’ve got a good set of players who will hopefully back me and will try their hardest, like I will try my hardest and we will go from there, then it’s up to the people in charge.

“It depends on how we get on after four games I suppose.”

Morrell admits Saunders’ departure came as something of a shock when he heard the news at 7.30am yesterday morning.

Wrexham have a tough schedule of games coming up over the next fortnight – playing four matches in just 12 days starting at Grimsby today – which Morrell says may not be a bad thing, while also insisting he won’t be making wholesale changes for this afternoon’s clash.

Asked whether he would throw his hat into the ring for the job full-time, Morrell said: “I really don’t know, I haven’t thought about it since 7.30am this morning, because the gaffer wasn’t going anywhere, the gaffer was happy, and I was happy playing, and I love playing football and that’s what I want to do still.

“But this gives me the chance to get a little bit of an insight into what it’s like on the other side of the fence and I’ll give it my best, and if they decide to go whatever way they choose, I’ll do my best and if the fans get right behind us then you never know.”

Morrell added: “It doesn’t give you time to think and mull things over, but I’ve spoken to the gaffer numerous times while I’ve been here about decisions he’s made and he has helped me in the way that he does it and his process.

“Sometimes it’s best not to have too much time because you can over-think things. It doesn’t give me a lot of time, but that’s probably the best thing. We will just go there and give it a go and do what we’ve been doing for the first 10 games and that should stand us in good stead.

“Grimsby are a good side and they’ll be looking to push into the top half at least, and the play-offs I would have thought at the start of the season, so it’s going to be a really tough game. But we will go there with the same attitude as we have done for the previous 10 games and fight, and fight and fight and put a performance in.

“We were really solid on Tuesday night and didn’t look like we were going to concede but we need to be a bit more clinical in the final third. If we can do that then there is no reason why we can’t win the game and that is exactly what we are going to try and do.

“Obviously Curtis (Obeng) is suspended for tomorrow, just a one-match ban, Danny Wright has got another game, so he will have to be replaced, but other than those two everyone is fit and everyone has trained well this morning.

“People are wanting to get into the team because we are doing well and that is only a good thing – which means some tough decisions for the manager, but good decisions.

“The gaffer made tough decisions on Tuesday – he left Tols (Jamie Tolley) out and Westy (Chris Westwood) out, he had his reasons and went with what he thought would win us the game.

“We did okay, we were solid, and I don’t think there are going to be too many changes.

“We are fairly set, but we will have a chat with the people in the know who are helping out, but I don’t think there will be too many changes.”

Having only had one training session to address his fellow players, Morrell was keeping his cards close to his chest on what was said, but did reveal some of the banter that had been thrown his way.

“There was a bit of banter flying already,” he added.

“They were all saying I haven’t got much hair left anyway, so it will all be gone by the end of the weekend.

“But if they (the owners) decide to put someone else in then I’m going to be back as a player, so I can’t burn all my bridges with them – I’m one of them at the end of the day.

“But I’m going to have to make some decisions, that is the way it will be. They have to take that and respect that and hopefully if it does come to me coming back as a player, then hopefully they will take me on board like I have been right the way through.”

Morrell also paid tribute to Saunders, wishing him the best in his new job at the Keepmoat Stadium.

“The gaffer has got a great opportunity to go and manage in the Championship,” he said.

“He’s done great things at this place, done great for the club and the town and turned us around. We play a great brand of football, and I wish him the best in his new job.

“He’s done great for me personally as well, helped me a lot and I can only wish him the best.

“I bet he is more busy than I am, he’s got more TV to do and more press to do because they are in the Championship, but we will plough on. I’m sure I will speak to him at some point.”